AALDEF criticized a racist segment that appeared on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Report" on Oct. 4, 2016, featuring interviews of people in New York's Chinatown by Fox commentator Jesse Watters. AALDEF's letter to Fox News Channel co-presidents Jack Abernathy and Bill Shine can be downloaded here; it also appears below the controversial Fox News video clip.

October
7, 2016

Jack
Abernethy and Bill Shine

Co-Presidents

Fox
News Channel

1211
Avenue of the Americas

New
York, NY 10036

Dear
Messrs. Abernathy and Shine:

On
Tuesday, Oct. 4, I saw the "Watters' World-Chinatown edition" on
"The O'Reilly Factor" and was appalled to see Fox News commentator
Jesse Watters ridiculing people in New York's Chinatown. In his 4-1/2 minute
segment, Watters invoked a full range of culturally-insensitive and
cringeworthy Asian stereotypes about bowing, fake watches, English subtitles
for persons speaking with accents, herbs, karate, foot massages, and
more. His "interviews" were interspersed with film clips designed to
make the interviewees look foolish. It was particularly offensive when Watters
badgered elderly Chinese Americans, who likely did not speak English or
understand why they were on TV.

In
the banter that followed, Bill O'Reilly's characterization of the Watters'
World Chinatown segment as "gentle fun" was another slap in the face.
O'Reilly acknowledged this piece would generate complaints from the Asian
American community, and he was right. My organization and many other Asian
American groups and individuals have spoken out on social media to criticize
this failed attempt at political humor. Outdated anti-Asian stereotypes are not
funny, and they shouldn't be featured on "The O'Reilly Report." Jesse
Watters' non-apology on Twitter merely added insult to injury.

If
Fox News has any interest in the Asian American community, it should do some
real reporting about Asian Americans and their diverse political views instead
of maligning people in Chinatown with tired stereotypes and racist humor.